Folding seat accessory



May 8, 1934. R. K. MERRILL FOLDING SEAT ACCESSORY Filed March 14. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwucntoz lfern'l l 7fal h May 8, 1934. R. K. MERRILL FOLDING SEAT ACCESSORY Filed March 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 after/M420 Patented May 8, 1934 STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING SEAT ACCESSORY Ralph K. Merrill,- Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 14,- 1931, Serial No. 522,666 1 Claim. (01. 15585) The present invention relates to folding seat Many cities have ordinances requiring the use accessories and more particularly to devices for of self-folding seats for theatres. Some of the causing seats to automatically tilt or fold when reasons for desiring theatre chairs having selfnot occupied. folding seats are (l) the providing of greater The main objects of the invention are to prospace between rows in case of fire or panic, vide a device adapted for attachment to a chair (2) the saving of labor in the folding of seats having a tiltable seat which will cause the seat after the audience has left for the purpose of to automatically fold when not occupied; to cleaning the theatre, (3) the providing of ready provide such a device having adjustable means ingress and egress from and to the aisle with for controlling the time element of the folding less confusion when a patron passes unoccupied movement; to provide such a device wherein the seats, (4) the prevention of the tendency of seat is caused to fold slower during its initial patrons to use empty seats for hats, wraps, and movement than during its final tilting movement; parcels, (5) the prevention of noisy operation and, to provide such a device which when atwhen seats are dropped and (6) the facilitating tached'to theatre chairs provides ready ingress search by ushers for articles lost or dropped by 70 and egress past unoccupied chairs. patrons.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is The device herein shown and described has :shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: adjusting means for controlling the time ele- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view ment of the tilting movement of the seat when of a seat supporting arm and its supporting the seat is unoccupied. Means are likewise pro- 75 bracket together with the device for causing the Vided for causing 'the seat to fold slower during seat to automatically tilt or fold when not 00- its initial tilting movement than during its final cupied; tilting movement. This is a' desirable feature Figure 2 is a similar view thereof showing from'the view point of the theatre chair occupant 525 the seat supporting arm in its folded or tilted who in selecting the seat he desires to occupy position;' will not find it returned while he is turning Figure 3 is a sectional view thereof taken on around before seating himself. In other words, line 3-3 of Figure 4; suflicient time elapses between the time the seat Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line l-.4 is unfolded to permit the patron to seat himself of Figure 3; before it is caused to automatically return to its Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tilted or folded position. modified form of the friction bearing and its Referring to the drawings in which like nu- ;adjusting means for controlling the time element merals designate the same parts in the several of the folding or tilting movement ofthe seat; views, the decimal numerals designating modi- Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view fied constructions, a chair structure comprises of a modified construction showing the seat in a chair seat 1 secured to a seat supporting arm 2 a position when occupied; in any suitable manner as by the screws 3. The Figure 7 is a similar view but showing the seat rear portion of the chair seat 1 through the mej-in tilted or folded position; diuni of the seat supporting arm is pivotally se- 5 40 Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 cured viz., hingedly connected, to a main frame of Figure 6 and showing the adjustable friction as 'to a seat supporting bracket 4 of the main bearing; frame by means of a hinge 5 to permit tilting Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the lever or folding movement of the chair seat about a :arm, its friction bearing and the compression horizontally and transversely extending axis. '45 spring for actuating the tilting movement of the Both the seat supporting arm and seat supportseat; and ing' bracket are provided with semi-circular por- Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of the lever tions to form hinge bearing surfaces on their in- .arm and its pivotal connection. ner contacting sides.

For many years past it has been regarded as Referring to Figures 1 to 4 a friction bearing .50 desirable to provide chairs for theatres, particgenerally designated 6 within a housing 7 which ularly chairs for moving picture theatres having is here shown secured to the underside of the self-folding or tilting seats. The broad idea of seat as by welding, is provided to receive one end such a theatre seat is not novel. Many such of an elongated lever arm or pivoted arm 8, which seats are spring actuated, others are operable member 8 may beand sometimes herein is-re- :55 by gravity acting through counter-weights. ferred to as a control bar or rod or even as a mem- 110 her of a set of friction brake members. The memher 8 is mounted and connected in an assembly where it has a swinging or pivotal movement relative to the seat supporting arm 2 as the latter moves from horizontal or open position for the seat to upright or folded. position for the seat. The member 8 is also mounted and connected so that it has an angular swinging movement relative to the stationary or seat supporting bracket as the seat supporting arm moves from said horizontal position for the seat to upright position for the seat. Within the housing is a friction element 9 of raw hide or other self-lubricating material which embraces the lever arm. A plate 10 is provided for use in association with the friction providing element 9 that in turn frictionally en.- gages the lever arm or pivoted rod 3. The plate 10 is disposed within a notch 11 and by contacting with one side of the friction element 9 provides means for tensioning the friction element. The two free ends of the friction element 9 are secured to the friction plate 10 as by the rivet 12. A set screw 13 turnable within the nut 14 provides means for adjusting the tension upon the friction element 9 by means of the lever 10.

A modified form of friction bearing within a housing 7.1 has a friction element 9.1 therein embracing the lever arm 8.1. On opposite sides of the friction element are disposed a stationary plate 10.1 and a plate 10.2 movable within a recess 10.3. A set screw 13.1 turnable within the nut 14.1 provides means for adjusting the tension upon the friction element 9.1 by means of the spring element 10/1 which bears upon the movable plate 10.2.

The lever arm 8, preferably of flat sheet metal, has a widened offset portion 15 which is pivotally connected to the seat supporting arm 2 and its supporting bracket 4 at a point offset from the hinge 5 by means of the clamp 16. This pivotal connection comprises a pivot pin 17 here shown as a bolt passing through the arcuate slot 18 formed within seat supporting arm 2. The clamp 16 is sector shaped and is provided with a pair of laterally extending spaced feet indicated by dotted lines at its widened end. The narrow end of the clamp is caused to bear against the hinge 5 and the spaced feet are caused to bear against the semi-circular portion of the seat supporting bracket 4 when the pivot pin 17 is tightened. The seat supporting arm 2 and seat supporting bracket 1 are thus held in assembled tiltable relation.

A coiled compression spring 19 encircling the lever arm 8 is interposed between the fixed disc 20 and the slidable disc 21 for tilting the seat to its folded position when not occupied.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 6 to 10 the friction bearing housing 7 .1 here shown as U-shaped is secured to the underside of the seat supporting arm 2.1 by means of the bracket 10.1. The lever arm 8.1 is pivotally secured to the seat supporting arm 2.1 and to the seat support ing bracket 4.1 at a point offset from the hinge 5.1 in a manner similar to that described in connection with they structure shown in Figures 1 and 2. The other end of the lever arm slides through the friction bearing housing '7 .1 between the pair of friction elements 9.1. The U-shaped friction bearing housing 7.1 is slidable transversely with respect to its supporting bracket 10.1. By tightening the screw 13.1, the bracket engages one of the friction elements and serves as means for tensionally adjusting the frictional contact ofthe friction elements with respect to the lever arm 8.1 therebetween.

The coiled compression spring 19.1 encircles the lever arm 8.1 in a manner similar to that heretofore described in connection with the description of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 and it is interposed between the discs 20.1 and 21.1 in a nilar manner for causing the seat to automatic tilt or fold when not occupied.

Having described the several structures illustrated herein, it will be apparent that when the seat is occupied the spring will be compressed and that as soon as the occupant arises the spring will expand causing the seat to tilt or fold upwardly because the pivotal connection of the lever arm is offset from the pivot point of the seat hinge. It will also be readily apparent that the seat will start to move relatively slowly as soon as the weight of the occupant is removed from the seat since the spring must overcome the influence of gravity. As the seat continues to fold however, it acquires increasing momentum because of the offset portion of the lever arm near its pivotal connection.

It will thus be seen that devices are herein shown and described which will cause the unoccupied seat to fold slowly during its initial tilting movement, that the time element of the folding movement may be controlled, and that seats thus equipped provide ready and convenient ingress and egress past such occupied seats.

In connection with the invention as disclosed in the various forms illustrated by the drawings, it will be noted particularly from what has preceded and in connection with the drawings that the spring arrangement for effecting the auto, matic tilting of the seat-upon the seat becoming unoccupied-from a horizontal open position to an upright closed or full tilted position, operates along an effective line of force that is offset a substantial distance from the horizontally and transversely extending axis about which the seat tilts or swings. It will be borne in mind that the rear portion of the seat is the part which has a hinged connection to the fixed main frame that comprises the side arms, and it will also be appreciated that the center of gravity of the seatis located outside of the point of pivotal support whereby when the free end of the seat moves upwardly and rearwardly, the center of gravity of the seat, of course, necessarily moves upwar ly and rearwardly; that the spring which is re: lied upon for effecting this upward movement must function to raise the weight as is indicated by'the fact that the center of gravity of the seat moves upwardly and rearwardly; that this spring also must overcome the braking or retarding effects of any instrumentalities which are applied to the seat so as to insure a slow movement thereof; and that this spring must consequently function along an effective line of force which operates at the end of a moment arm or instantaneous radius in a manner to insure a positive effecting of the desired seat movement. The ef-. fective line of force according to the construction shown in the drawings changes, slightly, its position in reference to the seat and also, slightly, in reference to the transverse axis mentioned, as will be manifest from an inspection and consideration of Figures 1 and 2 or from an inspect tion and consideration of Figures 6 and 7. In Figures 1 and 2, the positions for the effective lines of spring force or action are indicated by the lines a-b, a-b, and ab", to wit, lines indicating the instantaneous position of the effective line of force for the spring, respectively, at the start of the seat closing operation; at substant'ially the midposition of the seat when moving toward closed position-namely, at the time when the pivot pin 1'7 occupies midposition in arcuate slot 18-; and at the final position for the seat closing or tilting operation. The spring or spring means for moving the seat may be referred to as force exerting means; it may be referred to as seat operating means; or it may be referred to as energy providing means, and it will be noted that such means in the construction as shown comprises as an essential thereof the spring as the energy providing means. In the three positions indicated, it will be noted that the effective line of force for the spring is always at the end of an instantaneous radius or moment arm. There is an instantaneous radius or moment arm for each changed position of the effective line of force and the instantaneous radii or moment arms designated as cd, c-d, and c-d, respectively, correspond to the lines a-b, ab and a-b" indicative of the effective line of spring action regardless as to the specific construction of the spring movements shown, and according to which spring movements, it will be noted that the center lines of the springs do not parallel or coincide with the effective force lines indicated. It will be noted that each of the instantaneous radii or moment arms radiates or extends from the horizontally and transversely extending axis about which the seat swings or tilts as an axial center, and extends at right angles or is perpendicular to the effective force line to which it corresponds. It will also be noted that the instantaneous radii gradually and slightly increase in length from that of cd to that of cd as the seat moves upwardly during the first half of its closing movement; that the instantaneous radii gradually decrease in length from that of cd' to that of cd during the last half of the closing movement; that each instantaneous radius or moment arm is of substantial length; and that the instantaneous radius c-d which is effective at the start of the closing movement is at least as longin fact, longer,-than the instantaneous radius 0-01 for the final or closed position of the seat. This long instantaneous radius allows the spring to exert a relatively strong and powerful effect which is available for lifting the seatthat is, so as to lift the center of gravity of the seatand for overcoming any reasonable braking effect applied for operating in opposition to the spring effect whereby the speed of the seat closing operation can at will be controlled. Applicant has provided a slow closing seat, to wit, a seat in which a user can lower it to seating position and will have suflicient time within which to seat himself before the seat has automatically returned to its tilted or folded position. Applicant believes he is the first to produce such a slow closing seat. A

While but several specific embodiments of this invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

The combination with a chair structure having a stationary member and seat supporting arm hingedly connected thereto so as to swing about a horizontally extending axis and provided with an arcuate slot, the center of an arc section of which is said axis, of a device for causing said supporting arm to automatically move when allowed to do so from horizontal open position for the seat to upright folded position for the seat, said device comprising a pin mounted on the stationary member and extending through the arcuate slot of the seat supporting arm, a brake rod having an inner end mounted on said pin so as to permit relative swinging movement in a vertical plane as between said brake rod and said stationary member, an adjustable brake member carried by said seat supporting arm and with which the outer end of said rod has frictional sliding engagement, which said adjustable brake member is supported a substantial distance from said axis whereby said adjustable brake member has vertical swinging movement when the seat supporting arm swings, a coiled spring encircling said rod and cooperatively interposed between the part carrying said adjustable bearing member and said pin, which spring is maintained under compression but expands according to the upward swinging movement of the seat and is sufficiently powerful to effect upward movement of said seat supporting arm when allowed to do so, and means for adjusting the frictional pressure as between the outer end of said brake rod and said adjustable brake member.

RALPH K. MERRILL. 

